Saturday, February 16, 2013

Super Good News


I recently heard that I have won the Philip Levine Book Prize for my manuscript Mexican Jenny and Other Poems.  The book will be published this year by Anhinga Press, a respected independent literary publisher.  

I have been overwhelmed by this good news. I deeply respect and admire the work of both Philip Levine, in whose honor the contest was established, and of Cornelius Eady, the contest judge, so this recognition is especially meaningful to me.   

The title poem of this collection is a biographical poem about a woman who, legend has it, made a crazy quilt while she was incarcerated for murdering her violent partner, a man who was also her pimp.  Although "Mexican Jenny" is based on the slim outline of the story of a real woman, I have filled in the gaps of history with my own fiction making.  Since Jenny was a quilter, what I have learned over the last 13 years as a quilt maker myself, showed me the way to tell her story.  

The pen and the needle are powerful tools that allow us to speak about human experience.

12 comments:

Cyra said...

Congratulations on such good news Barbara. This is a fabulous achievement.

DebbyMc said...

Wow! Fantastic! Congratulations =-)

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Congratulations for receiving recognition for a work that you are so proud of.

Jodi said...

Oh, how exciting for you - kudos!

sophie said...

What wonderful news! Congratulations.

Rian said...

Congratulations Barbara, what a wonderful achievement.

Suztats said...

WooHoo!!!
Fantastic news, Barbara, and congratulations!!

Judy S. said...

Awesome! Congratulations, Barbara!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! I learned so much about you by reading the award announcement on their website. Funny, it doesn't mention your quilting and cq prowess. =) Congratulations on a wonderful win.

Magpie Sue said...

Wow! Congratulations!

allie aller said...

Deepest congratulations, Barbara!

Susan Elliott said...

Woot Woot!! That's wonderful news Barbara. congratulations! I'd love to hear about Mexican Jenny...

Economy Block and Large-Scale Fabrics

Recenlty I decided to take out and use the stash of Asian-themed fabrics I'd set aside.  Many of them are large scale, so I wanted to fe...